Once I got to Eagle and Falcon, taking their links, tears were squeezing from my eyes and I was fighting full sobs.
Hawk finally appeared, holding a shallow but wide white box. I stepped closer and he smiled. A big smile, almost cheesy.
I wrapped my fingers around all the pieces of links and wiped my cheeks with the back of my hands. “What’s happening?”
He came a step closer. “Kat. Katarina, do you promise to always stay true to our destiny and enforce our bylaws?”
“Yes, of course,” I said, swallowing hard.
“Do you promise to always stay true to me and support me and the club?”
“Yes…” I said slowly.
Hawk fell to his knee, and pulled the lid off the box. Staring up at me was the club emblem, the Grim Reaper with crossing scythes. Above it said, “Property of” and below it said, “Hawk.”
“Oh my God,” I gasped, my shaky hand flying to my mouth.
“Katarina, I promise to stay true to you, and always protect and support you. Will you be my Old Lady?
The sobs finally broke free and I fell to my knees. My shoulder pinched from the impact but I didn’t care. He moved the box and grabbed me, pulling me close. I wrapped my good arm around him and put the other closed hand on his chest as my body shook.
“Is that a yes?” he asked in my ear.
“Well, what’s it gonna be?” Daisy shouted.
A broken, “Yes,” finally came out before Hawk’s lips crushed mine.
Everyone yelled and clapped, and I jumped when someone popped a bottle of champagne.
“I got you,” he said. “Here, I wanna see this on my woman.” He pulled away and grabbed the small leather vest.
He helped me to my feet, then gingerly helped me get it on, careful with my bad arm. Lacy brought me a small black, velvet satchel with the club emblem on it, and I dropped thelinks inside.
Looking down, I rubbed my hand over the patch that saidKitty Kat.
“I love it,” I said, wiping more tears from my cheeks.
Mama Hen came around and stood next to Hawk. She stared at him, and when he gave her a nod, she pulled a small box from her pocket. “This is yours now.”
My hand was still trembling when I took the small rectangular box. I opened it and reached inside. What I pulled out brought a new wave of sobs and I fell into her arms.
“Your shoulder, hon,” Mama Hen scolded.
“I-cannot-take-this,” I said between ragged breaths.
“Don’t worry. I still have one. But this is yours now. I’m retired.”
Pulling away, I looked down at the patch that saidFirst Lady.
“I don’t know if I’m ready,” I whispered to her.
“Apparently,” Shiv said as she came closer, “you are. But next time, no shenanigans if I am not here, okay? And also, why didn’t you ask for a brown doctor? I will need to see that wound.”
Watery laughs came from my chest. “I’m sorry. You’ll be glad to know Kristie did try to point out that you weren’t here.”
Kristie nodded. “And I was right. So, let’s remember this.”
Lacy said, “I told them it was a bad idea.”
